FTSE 250 movers: Berkeley lifts housebuilders higher after strong results and guidance

6th Dec 2013 15:29

Housebuilder Berkeley Group surged on Friday after reporting a 19.2 per cent jump in first-half profits and saying that full-year earnings could come in at the top end of analysts' expectations due to an earlier-than-expected completion of one its housing schemes in London.The company said that the government's 'Help to Buy' scheme has benefitted the UK housing market on the whole, "driving transaction levels and increasing confidence in the industry", even though the impact on Berkeley's business has been minimal. Other housebuilders including Bellway, Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Developments were also making gains today.Gold miners were performing well today as precious metal prices gained; Centamin, African Barrick Gold, Polymetal and Hochschild Mining were all in demand.Investors at transport firm FirstGroup cheered the announcement that the company has found a replacement for Chairman Martin Gilbert, who revealed his intention to step down in May. Current Aviva Chairman John McFarlane is due to take his place.However, a boardroom shake-up was not well-received at Domino's as the pizza delivery chain said that its Chief Executive Lance Batchelor would leave at the end of April. Analysts at N+1 Singer Equity Research said the departure creates "further uncertainty" after the exit of the company's Chief Financial Officer just three weeks ago. There were also rumours that the company might be about to slow down the roll-out of its new UK stores.FTSE 250 - RisersBerkeley Group Holdings (The) (BKG) 2,477.00p +8.55%Centamin (DI) (CEY) 45.25p +6.22%FirstGroup (FGP) 117.00p +5.31%African Barrick Gold (ABG) 159.80p +4.72%AL Noor Hospitals Group (ANH) 845.00p +4.71%Perform Group (PER) 418.20p +4.55%Murray International Trust (MYI) 1,037.00p +4.33%Xaar (XAR) 1,065.00p +4.21%Polymetal International (POLY) 496.10p +3.94%Hochschild Mining (HOC) 124.50p +3.49%FTSE 250 - FallersDomino's Pizza Group (DOM) 499.50p -5.58%Spirent Communications (SPT) 102.60p -3.30%Chemring Group (CHG) 200.30p -2.29%Partnership Assurance Group (PA.) 300.80p -2.18%Debenhams (DEB) 88.50p -2.10%Dialight (DIA) 873.00p -2.08%Halfords Group (HFD) 480.00p -1.78%888 Holdings (888) 163.60p -1.68%Carpetright (CPR) 521.50p -1.60%Enterprise Inns (ETI) 139.60p -1.55%BC